What is phenylketonuria?

Also known as: PKU.

Phenylalanine is an amino acid present in many foods high in protein. Ordinarily, the body produces an enzyme that breaks down this amino acid. But people with phenylketonuria do not produce this enzyme, so phenyalanine can build up in the body to dangerous levels.

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Reviewed by: Parul B Jayakar, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM